For the first time since the 1970’s, College Board will be offering a summer administration of the SAT. The inaugural summer exam is scheduled for August 26, 2017 and will recur annually. The January SAT date, often cited as an unpopular option, will be phased out after its final appearance in 2017.
Inside the new SAT test…what’s new, and what’s different
The new SAT will soon arrive on a wave of bold promises. The College Board has said its redesigned admission test would contain “no more mysteries.” Instead of being a riddle to solve, it would correspond with high-school curriculums and better reflect what students have learned.
The pitch sounds good. But is it true? In the spirit of good prep, let’s review what we know so far.
The big problem with the new SAT?
While a clear improvement, the new and revised SAT remains problematic. It will still emphasize speed — quick recall and time management — over subject knowledge. Despite evidence that writing is the single most important skill for success in college, the essay will be optional. The biggest problem is that, while the content will be new, the underlying design will not change.